Overwhelmed?
“We help you own your story so that you can lead with clarity.”
Ministry Coach
Executive Coach
Certified Church Consultant
Jeff Martin
We walk alongside pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian executives. We take the time to understand your story, discern where God has been working, and help you lead with greater clarity.
Hiring a coach is easy.
Step One: Schedule your free 60-minute consultation.
Step Two: Receive a customized proposal tailored to your unique context.
Step Three: Begin getting the support, encouragement, and equipping you and your team need.
What We Offer
One-on-One Ministry Leader Coaching
Confidential, gospel-centered coaching tailored to your story, strengths, and leadership goals.
Preaching Lab Training Cohort
A practical workshop series for lay elders and pastors to preach Christ from Scripture with a repeatable sermon process and peer feedback.
The Leadership Workshop Series
Practical training and cohorts that build feedback-rich cultures and equip your team to lead.
Strategic Planning for Churches
A five-phase process that clarifies mission, aligns teams, and produces an actionable plan.
Preparation, support during your sabbatical, and guided reintegration for pastors and spouses,
Sabbatical Coaching
One-on-One Executive Leadership Coaching
Coaching adapted to business contexts—aligning gospel identity with practical priorities and systems.
Gospel Anchored Leadership Community (Included for pastors)
Monthly, confidential pastor cohort for practical problem-solving, shared resources, and mutual encouragement.
Our Approach
Applying the Gospel
True leadership begins with our identity in Christ. Whether providing individual leader coaching or organizational consulting, we prioritize helping you apply the gospel to your own heart—addressing not just organizational strategy but also heart-level motivations.
Caring for Leaders, Not Just Institutions
Healthy ministries start with healthy leaders. Our goal is to support you relationally and spiritually. One of our unique aspects is providing mentoring for spouses, who are oftentimes overlooked and under supported.
Creating Feedback-Rich Cultures
Long-term growth demands honest feedback. We help you and your ministry build systems and rhythms of feedback—both formal and informal—that foster accountability, learning, and relational health.
Customizing Services
We reject a one-size-fits-all approach. Every engagement begins with listening carefully to your story and context. We tailor services to your specific needs and goals, and adapt as necessary throughout the process.
Equipping for Lasting Change
Our aim is empowerment, not dependency. We equip you with sustainable tools and processes—whether strategic planning, preaching development, or team training—that you can maintain independently for lasting impact.
A little about us…
Jeff Martin grew up in northern New Jersey and studied Marketing at Miami University (OH), where his life was redirected by God through the ministry of Cru. He joined Cru staff, met his wife Mary, and spent 23 years with the ministry, including seven years as a missionary in Bulgaria. After earning an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Jeff served as Cru’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director before becoming lead pastor of Rock Creek Church (MD) in 2013.
In 2025, driven by his passion for developing leaders, Jeff intentionally transitioned out of his role as lead pastor, stepping into a part-time teaching pastor position. This strategic move created space for him to invest more fully in equipping and supporting other ministry leaders through Gospel Anchored.
With over 25 years of leadership and coaching experience, Jeff has led multi-ethnic teams and churches and is a certified church consultant. He is passionate about helping ministry leaders navigate the complexities of leading others—and themselves.
Jeff is energized by sports, laughter, deep conversations, and boating on the Chesapeake Bay.
Originally from Arlington, VA, Mary Martin earned a Social Work degree from James Madison University. She served with Cru for 23 years in various roles, including campus ministry and mentoring younger staff women. At church, she helped launch the Titus 2 ministry, which supports the elder team, mentors women, and encourages spiritual multiplication.
She loves coming alongside the wives of ministry leaders and giving feedback on church health assessments. Mary is known for her encouragement, wisdom, and attentive listening.
Her current hobbies include Les Mills workouts, baking, going to Broadway shows, and hosting monthly scrapbooking workshops. Mary loves opening her home for guests and spending time with her amazing husband of 34+ years, three children (plus two sons-in-law), and first grandchild Asher!
What Others Are Saying
“Jeff's coaching comes from a wealth of experience as a practitioner and ministry coach. He helped me clarify vision & coached our team through a robust strategic planning process that is bearing fruit. I cannot recommend Jeff more highly as a personal and ministry team coach!"
Ed Choy
Senior Pastor, Restoration Church
“There are a number of executive coaches out there, but I wanted to connect with somebody who was gospel centered and would integrate the gospel into everything that I was doing.
I’ve sat through and watched thousands of sermons, but we’ve had so much traction in the past few months. Jeff has helped me see things that I’ve never been cognizant of in my life.”
William Satterfield
Nuclear Engineering Consultant
“Jeff’s coaching, insights, and attentiveness helped make our sabbatical incredibly fruitful. As a coach, Jeff strikes that rare balance between leadership development, soul care, and transparency.
I have already highly recommended Jeff and Mary to others for sabbatical coaching.”
Adam Wilson
Pastor of Discipleship and Implementation, Redemption City Church
Let’s Talk!
I’d love the opportunity to hear your story and see how we might be able to partner together to serve you and your leadership.
Lead from a place of grace, not performance. This podcast equips pastors, ministry leaders, and everyday believers to stay rooted in Christ while navigating the challenges of leadership, communication, and life. Practical, honest, and gospel-centered, each conversation encourages you to lead confidently, knowing your worth is anchored in the gospel—not your achievements.
The Gospel Anchored Leadership Podcast
Latest Episodes
Your lay elders are carrying more than just church responsibilities—they are navigating secular pressures, family transitions, and their own spiritual battles. Brian offers unique insights into how pastors can better support their lay leaders, the importance of "smelling like sheep," and why the most important thing a leader can do is foster an environment where walls of loneliness are torn down.